Jones Geneaology Report 2024.02.18 - Person Sheet
Jones Geneaology Report 2024.02.18 - Person Sheet
NameGordon Otto Tunby
Birth5 May 1922
Death8 Apr 2011
BurialHoughton Cemetery, Houghton, Brown, South Dakota
FatherHieronymus Heyerdahl (Rony) Tunby (1887-1960)
MotherHelga Nygaard (1892-1966)
Misc. Notes
Gordon was born to Rony and Helga (Nygaard) Tunby on May 5, 1922 while in Houghton, So. Dak. The family of 5 lived there until they moved to Westmore, MT to homestead in 1925. Gordon loved eastern MT and he loved life in general. His family made the decision to hold Gordon and his 3 other siblings from high school until the 4th in sequence was done with 8th grade and then the 4 oldest attended Baker High School together for 4 years. That meant that his dad stayed back to run the ranch by himself while Helga went to work at the Baker Hospital as a nurse and brought all 8 kids with her to live in Baker and attend school. On May 24, 1944 he was inducted into the Army Medical Corps. He worked on a hospital ship that traveled between Brooklyn and Europe. On June 26, 1946 he married Maryellen Knecht in Houghton, So. Dak. where he had met her while helping his Uncle Ode farm right before he went into the army. Gordon and Maryellen corresponded during his time in the army. During his service, she moved to Cedar Rapids, IA and he visited her there on his furlough. They started their married life in Cedar Rapids, IA. He began to work for the Railway Post Office and in 1954 he transfered to the St. Paul Terminal where he worked until he retired in 1980 after 34 years. Gordon and Maryellen enjoyed many winters in AZ, multiple trips to Norway and others countries as well as cross country trips with friends and family. After Maryellen died in 1999, he met Lois Eggen and they were married for almost 2 years before she died. His third wife, Helen Cocker (and her deceased husband Bob) were close friends of Gordon and Maryellen's since the 1950's when they met in Cedar Rapids in the Post Office. Gordon appreciated good friends and good jokes where ever he went! He left Montana but Montana never left him. He was a cowboy at heart. He would mow the grass with long jeans and cowboy boots on and tell us "That cowboys don't wear shorts." It wasn't until the last few years at the house that he made his jeans into cut offs...and mowed a little more comfortably.Gordon loved the Lord Jesus and served Him in different capacities. He is survived by his son Gordon Wayne and family, Jan LaRae and family and Ron Alan and family.
Spouses
Birth5 Mar 1921
Death19 Apr 1999
BurialHoughton Cemetery, Houghton, Brown, South Dakota
Marriage26 Jun 1946, Houghton, Brown, South Dakota
Marriage2001